During World War I (1914-18), Winchester became a major transit location for troops destined for the Western Front and battlefields. Vast numbers of barrack huts and recreation buildings were built, covering large tracts of Morn Hill, Magdalen Hill, Winnall Down and Avington Park. It is claimed the Morn Hill Camps could accommodate more than 50,000 troops when Winchester at the time only had a population of about 20,000.

Today Morn Hill hosts one of Butterfly Conservation's flagship reserves - Magdalen Hill Down - and is home to numerous species of butterfly.

The Promise

To erect a permanent memorial to those service personal of the British, Commonwealth (the then British Empire), American and Allied Forces who passed through Winchester Morn Hill Camps on their way to fight for our freedom in the Great War 1914-18.

The Project Group, which sits under The Upper Itchen Valley Society, has taken for its theme: “To Honour a Promise”.